The three-day meeting — which was held in Nassau — drew delegates from throughout the Caribbean as well as fisheries experts from Bermuda. Wrapping up on March 28, the conference was held under the auspices of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism [CRFM] — an inter-governmental organisation with the mission to “promote and facilitate the responsible utilisation of the region’s fisheries and other aquatic resources for the economic and social benefits of the current and future population of the region”.

CRFM executive director Milton Haughton said the invasive Pacific lionfish was an issue of major concern.

“In only a few years this invasive species has spread across the entire Caribbean causing untold negative impacts on local fish stocks and marine ecosystems,” he said.

Lionfish are an invasive species in the Western Atlantic and are likely to cause widespread economic and environmental harm.

Triangle Diving video of lionfish cull on Bermuda’s reefs

Originating in the Indo-Pacific Region, it is believed they were introduced into the Atlantic in the late 1980s by local aquariums or fish hobbyists in Florida.

They have now spread throughout the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, South America and as far north as Massachusetts and Bermuda.

Lionfish are indiscriminate predators, preying on species which are commercially, recreationally and ecologically important

It has been demonstrated that lionfish — which can eat up to 30 times their own stomach volume — are able to reduce juvenile fish populations on a reef by nearly 90 percent in as little as five weeks.

Lionfish have no known predators in Bermuda waters so their population can increase exponentially.

Increasing numbers of lionfish have been found on Bermuda’s reefs in recent weeks but just this week a specimen was caught in Harrington Sound.

“Harrington Sound is a hatchery — it’s a place where juveniles grow up,” Graham Maddocks of the Ocean Support Foundation told the “Bermuda Sun”, saying the discovery was a worrying new development.

“It seems the bio-mass of the lionfish could be growing enough to where they are coming into shallower waters instead of sticking to the deep water as we have seen before. Anyone who sees a lionfish should contact the Ocean Support Foundation and we will come and collect it.”

A police spokesperson said, “Around 7:10pm on Sunday, March 18th police received a report of a man missing at sea. There are limited details at this time; however it appears that two men were out fishing earlier in the Cooper’s Island, St. George’s area.

“One of the men returned to shore safely around 6:30pm; however the other, 41 year old Donald Tucker, is still unaccounted for.

“The Marine Police are currently searching the Cooper’s Island area waters for Mr. Tucker and the Maritime Operations Centre Bermuda Radio have appealed for any vessels in the area to assist in locating the missing individual.

“Anyone with any information on the whereabouts of 41 year old Donald Tucker is encouraged to contact the main police number 295-0011 immediately.”

Update Mar.19, 5.15am: A Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre spokesman confirmed that Mr Tucker has not been located yet, and said that the search will continue at daybreak.

Update 9.30am: The Marine Police can be seen at the tip of Coopers Island, and people can be seen gathered on shore also. We are expecting to receive an official update later today.

Update 11.38am: Police remain in the area, with various activities taking place. Police are expected to release an official statement soon.

Update 2.30pm: The Bermuda Hospitals Board confirmed the death of 41-year-old Donald Tucker.

Last month, Premier Paula Cox announced in the 2012/13 Budget Statement that Government had initiated discussions with relevant parties to assess the feasibility of establishing a licensing regime for international fishing vessels taking fish stocks out of Bermuda’s 200 mile maritime Exclusive Economic Zone.

“These discussions were initiated because of Government’s concern regarding the real possibility that foreign flagged fishing vessels are fishing in Bermuda waters illegally and may have been doing so for many years,” said Minister Bean today.

“After further examination and consultation with technical staff, the Government has decided that the option of licensing international fishing vessels is not in Bermuda’s best interest. Instead, the Government has opted to assess ways to enhance enforcement capabilities so that illegal fishers can be apprehended.”

Minister Bean said the Government will continue to encourage local fishermen who wish to engage in offshore fishing saying, “Bermuda has rights and access to the fishery resources of a vast expanse of ocean and it would be very short-sighted of us not to utilize these resources and avail ourselves of the resultant economic benefits, especially since many of the species that are available for capture around Bermuda are currently flown into the Island every week for our consumption.

“The Department of Environmental Protection has developed terms and conditions for offshore fishing that adhere to current best practices aimed at minimizing by-catch and the Government is confident that offshore fishing can be conducted by local fishermen in Bermuda’s waters in an environmentally responsible manner,” said the Minister.

The One Bermuda Alliance had said they were “alarmed” by the proposal to licence foreign fishing boats as the proposal “would appear to fly in the face” of the Government’s proposal to create one of the world’s largest maritime reserves, and as fishermen in deep water mainly use long line fishing, which has been attacked by international conservation groups as the by-catch involves the slaughtering of thousands of unwanted creatures.

The Minister’s full statement follows below:

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Update 4.20pm: Shadow Minister for the Environment, Planning & Housing Senator Michael Fahy said, “Environment Minister Marc Bean has made a statement in the House of Assembly today, announcing that he has reversed his earlier decision to license foreign vessels to fish in Bermuda’s 200-mile maritime economic zone.

“I congratulate him. I believe he has made a decision that will go a long way to ensuring that Bermuda continues to play a positive part in the conservation of the Atlantic ocean environment. I’m glad, too, that he has now taken the needs of local fishermen into account, although I do have a slight reservation about the way he phrased his statement.

“Mr Bean said: “the Department of Environmental Protection has developed terms and conditions for offshore fishing that adhere to current best practices, aimed at minimising by-catch and the Government is confident that offshore fishing can be conducted by local fishermen in Bermuda’s waters in an environmentally-responsible manner.”

“As is well known, conservationists the world over condemn this practice, because of the enormous collateral damage for which it is known to be responsible. It would be a great shame if the Minister’s reversal had the effect of simply swapping one set of longline fishermen for another,” concluded Senator Fahy.

A statement issued by the Department said, “Aquaculture is the farming of water-based organisms including fish, shellfish and algae. Most commonly used for food production, aquaculture represents the world’s fastest growing food sector.

“Aquaponics is the utilization of fish waste created by aquaculture for the production of crops – as fish waste is known to be an excellent fertilizer.

“Initial observations suggest a concrete system will work best for Bermuda and can be made from local materials. Tilapia and shrimp were proposed as the two organisms which may be most successful in an aquaculture set-up in Bermuda, while tomatoes, strawberries, Romaine lettuce and basil were possible options from an aquaponics perspective.”

The workshop, entitled ‘Intensive Indoor Aquaculture and Aquaponics’, will be led by international aquaculture expert Doug Burdette who has more than 40 years experience in the aquaculture industry through his company Global Aquatics.

Mr. Burdette’s company designs specific aquaculture systems for countries around the world. Prices for these systems range from $5,000 to $60,000.

According to Mr. Burdette, a $5,000 system could produce as much as 12,500 meals per year while $60,000 would produce 50,000 meals.

“The key is that these systems are affordable,” Mr. Burdette explained. “It is a science that can be started in a relatively primitive manner.

“In a 3,000 gallon tank, you can produce one pound of fish per gallon of water. Furthermore, in a system that is 25 feet wide and 60 feet long you can grow 25,000 pounds of fish a year. The waste from this can translate to 375,000 pounds of produce.”

Mr. Burdette was on the island over the weekend doing exploratory studies of possible locations for aquaculture structures – a visit that he self-funded.

Mr. Burdette said, “In the US, one of the main things we outsource is agriculture. We import so much of fish and green vegetables, which has eliminated jobs in the U.S. I believe it is the same situation here in Bermuda.”

He added: “Aquaculture will give Bermuda more independence when it comes to local food production. Right now, if you get cut off from the international food supply you have a big problem.”

Minister of Environment, Planning and Infrastructure Strategy Marc Bean explained that there are a number of benefits that Bermuda stands to gain from pursuing aquaculture.

Minister Bean said: “The emergence of a new aquaculture industry will provide new business, employment, and investment opportunities for Bermudians.

“Furthermore, local production of farmed fish will contribute to our food security. Presently, 75% of the seafood consumed in Bermuda is imported and, while there are a number of reasons that make it unlikely that Bermuda could be entirely self-sufficient, any aquaculture operation would serve to reduce our dependence on imported seafood.”

Director of Environmental Protection Dr. Frederick Ming said: “We went to Mr. Burnette because we feel confident in his ability to guide us through the process of building a solid foundation for commercial aquaculture and aquaponics that suits local conditions. This is something I have wanted to see in Bermuda since the 1970s.”

Dr. Ming added: “This workshop will provide valuable information relevant to a range of interests – from those with a genuine interest in learning more about aquaculture, to those who would like to start up their own aquaculture or aquaponics business in Bermuda.”

The workshop will take place in the Visitor’s Centre of the Botanical Gardens from 10am until 4pm on March 24th. Lunch may be purchased next door at Homer’s Café.

Just after the Premier delivered her Budget Speech a few days ago, I publicly questioned a reference she made to licensing foreign vessels to fish in Bermuda’s 200-mile maritime economic zone.

I made two points in relation to this scheme. The first was that it seemed to conflict with the Government’s proposal to create one of the world’s largest maritime reserves in the Exclusive Economic Zone. The Pew Environmental Group, from whom the Government has sought assistance in creating this zone, hopes to turn 94% of the EEZ into a marine reserve. The benefits will be enormous – including the ability to market Bermuda as an environmental haven.

The second was that fishermen in deep water are commonly long liners – that is, they use fishing lines that are sometimes as much as 50 miles long, with thousands of baited hooks attached. This is a method of fishing that has been attacked by environmental groups world-wide for the collateral damage it causes. The United Nations has been asked to ban long line fishing by 705 international scientists from 83 countries and 230 non-governmental organizations from 54 countries, yet the Bermuda Government seems to know better.

I am disappointed that the Government seems not to have taken any steps at all to make their intentions clearer, other than to suggest that unmanned aerial vehicles could keep a watch on things. This is a fundamental choice they’re proposing to make on Bermuda’s behalf. Are we going to be on the side of the angels – those who are trying to preserve the world’s oceans and fish populations? Or are we going to be on the side of the long liners? Surely, this is a choice the public has a right to be given at least some basic information about.

My purpose in this article is to challenge the Government to answer some questions about what they’re doing and how far along they’ve managed to get with their plans.

Have they talked with other countries about whether they’d accept an invitation to fish in our waters? If they have, I think we ought to know when the approaches were made, what countries were involved and what answers they gave.

Has the Government made its intentions known to, or asked the advice of, any of the international marine conservation organizations? Is the Government satisfied that what it intends to do is in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and other such conventions? Has the British Government been consulted? If so, what was its reaction?

Has the Government undertaken cost/benefit analyses of licensing foreign fishing vessels to fish in Bermuda’s Exclusive Economic Zone versus the cost-benefit analysis of legislating 94% of Bermuda’s Exclusive Economic Zone as a Marine Protected Area? What were the results of those studies?

Were local fishermen consulted about this licensing scheme? Did they agree with the idea?

The public deserves some answers.

Interestingly the Government’s paper “A Strategy for the Sustainable Use of Bermuda’s Living Marine Resources” indicated that the swordfish would be the primary long liner catch in Bermuda waters. Here are some frightening statistics. In the Atlantic, at the turn of the last Century, the average swordfish landed weighed 300 to 400 pounds. By 1963, the average fish landed weighed 266 pounds, and in 1996, the average fish weighed only 90 pounds. The facts that the size of fish being harvested continues to shrink, and that almost all individuals are juveniles, are classic symptoms of overfishing.

Several species of tuna sharing similar life history traits are showing similar declines. The largest tuna, blue fin, has been fished to near extinction. Recent scientific studies suggest that top predatory fish populations have decreased by 90% in the past 50 years, and long lining has been identified as the primary cause.

It seems to us that rather than licence foreign trawlers, which the Government says could be policed by unmanned aerial vehicles, we could use those very same drones to enforce the proposed Marine Protected Areas to catch vessels fishing illegally. This in itself could generate revenue. We believe that Bermuda’s EEZ should be turned into a MPA. After all it is what the Government wanted in 2010 as well.

- Michael Fahy

The e-petition’s text says, “The Bermuda Government has started talks aimed at licensing foreign fishing vessels that catch fish in Bermuda’s 200-mile maritime exclusive economic zone.

“These fishermen often use long-lines to catch fish. This method of fishing reaps indiscriminate, wholesale destruction upon our fragile marine environment. We believe that Bermuda would be far better off if it managed its marine environment with the aim of developing eco-tourism.

“We conclude that the economies of eco-tourism far outweigh the economies of long-line fishing. We therefore ask that the Bermuda Government take a stand on the side of our marine environment and pass legislation which bans long-line fishing.”

During his speech at the post budget press conference last month, Environment, Planning and Infrastructure Minister Marc Bean said in an effort to find new revenue for Bermuda, the Ministry will develop an offshore fishery and “seek to implement a licensing regime” for international vessels to fish in our waters.

“We hope that by facilitating the development of our own offshore fishery, combined with increased control via licensing and protection of our EEZ from international vessels, the Government and people of Bermuda will benefit by increased economic activity and revenues,” said Minister Bean.

The One Bermuda Alliance responded, with Shadow Minister of the Environment Michael Fahy saying the OBA is “alarmed” by Government’s proposal which“would appear to fly in the face” of the Government’s proposal to create one of the world’s largest maritime reserves.

The Senator also said fishermen in deep water mainly use long lines to catch fish, with the lines up to 50 miles long with thousands of baited hooks attached, a method that has been attacked by international conservation groups as the “the by-catch involves the slaughter of thousands of unwanted creatures.”

Senator Fahy said the proposal “would appear to fly in the face” of the Government’s proposal to create one of the world’s largest maritime reserves, and also said fishermen in deep water mainly use long lines to catch fish, with the lines up to 50 miles long with thousands of baited hooks attached.

The Senator said long line fishing has been attacked by international conservation groups as the “the by-catch involves the slaughter of thousands of unwanted creatures.”

A PSA from international conservation group SeaStewards on long line fishing in the world’s oceans:

During his speech at the post budget press conference on Friday, Minister Marc Bean said in an effort to find new revenue for Bermuda, the Ministry will develop an offshore fishery and “seek to implement a licensing regime” for international vessels to fish in our waters.

“$483,000 will be dedicated to the development of a shore side facility for the processing of fish which “will be a necessary component to ensure the success of the offshore fishery,” said the Environment, Planning and Infrastructure Minister.

Minister Bean also said they will seek to implement a licensing regime for international vessels who fish inside of our Exclusive Economic Zone [EEZ].

“A critical component of such a regime will be the need for adequate enforcement of our EEZ. We are exploring options by which this enforcement will be effective, and I expect it will be through a combination of maritime and aerial capabilities.

“We hope that by facilitating the development of our own offshore fishery, combined with increased control via licensing and protection of our EEZ from international vessels, the Government and people of Bermuda will benefit by increased economic activity and revenues,” said Minister Bean.

Senator Fahy said, “In her budget speech, the Premier mentioned that the Government had started talks aimed at licensing foreign fishing vessels that catch fish in Bermuda’s 200-mile maritime exclusive economic zone.

“The OBA is alarmed by this idea for two main reasons. First, it would appear to fly in the face of the Government’s very welcome proposal to create one of the world’s largest maritime reserves in Bermuda’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

“The Pew Environmental Group, from whom the Government has sought assistance in creating the zone, hopes to turn 94% of the EEZ into a marine reserve. The benefits will be enormous – including the ability to market Bermuda as an environmental haven. We support this initiative wholeheartedly.

“Second, fishermen in deep water mainly use long lines to catch fish. These are fishing lines that are sometimes as much as 50 miles long, with thousands of baited hooks attached. They are left in the water for days at a time.

“This method of fishing has been attacked by conservation groups the world over for what is called the by-catch – the fish, turtles and birds that are hooked and killed, but not wanted by the fishermen and thrown away.

“If there were just a few of them, that would be one thing, but very often, the by-catch involves the slaughter of thousands of unwanted creatures. Researchers say that the recent decline in the shark populations – some say that 90% of them have disappeared – is chiefly a result of long line fishing,” said Senator Fahy.

“Some countries have closed their ports to longliners. There is a move afoot in the international community to have the United Nations ban this type of fishing.

“Bermuda has actually been down this road before – Bermudians will remember vividly the fishing vessels that used to call here years ago with dozens of shark fins dangling from their rigging. As I remember it, that licensing venture fizzled out for two related reasons.

“First, there wasn’t enough of a fish population in deep waters around Bermuda to attract fishermen in big numbers, and second, there wasn’t enough interest (and licensing income) from fishermen to justify the administration of the scheme.

“Perhaps we didn’t know enough about the damage longliners were apt to cause when we first got involved, but we do now – a simple internet search will turn up all the information that is needed.

“But if the Government is intending to license fishermen regardless of the methods they intend to use, we would be squandering a hard-won reputation for being at the forefront of enlightened maritime thinking.

“We were, I would remind the Government, the first country in the world to pass legislation to preserve wildlife – petrels and cedars, back in the 17th Century – and we passed groundbreaking and now much-copied legislation to protect fish from fish pots in the 1990s.

“The OBA is looking for clarification of the Government’s proposals – it seems to us you either support the Bermuda Blue Halo project or you don’t – you can’t really have it both ways,” concluded Senator Fahy.

The Ministry’s budget for the upcoming year is $15,745,000, an increase of $1.5 million or 11% when compared to 2011-2012. Minister Bean said the additional funds have been provided to enable the Department of Telecommunications to implement telecommunications reform.

“As a result of reform, we expect to see a wider range of services at a higher quality for a decreased cost, to the benefit of both consumers and businesses,” said the Minister

The Ministry’s total expenditure on Capital Development and Acquisition will be $956,000. $483,000 of that total will be dedicated to the development of a shore side facility for the processing of fish.

“In our efforts to find new revenue streams for Bermuda, our Ministry, through the Department of Environmental Protection, will work to develop an offshore fishery. The shore side facility will be a necessary component to ensure the success of the offshore fishery,” said Minister Bean.

“We hope that by facilitating the development of our own offshore fishery, combined with increased control via licensing and protection of our EEZ from international vessels, the Government and people of Bermuda will benefit by increased economic activity and revenues.”

Minister Bean also spoke on registration of title for private land, the work of the Sargasso Sea Alliance, national infrastructure strategy and decreasing our reliance on fossil fuels.

The Minister’s full statement follows below:

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Located on North Shore next to the old Clayhouse Inn, the Sea Side Grill takeout restaurant opened last week Wednesday [Feb.15] and specialises in a wide variety of seafood and other dishes.

Offering both local and foreign fish,  25-year-old owner Tonka Simpson already has a fishing business and plans to provide his own freshly-caught fish at Sea Side Grill which will cut down on costs.

The eatery is open from 11am to 10pm through the week, and the opening hours on Sundays are 8am to 1pm, with a traditional Bermuda codfish breakfast on offer.

The business also offers a food delivery service, and in the first week have already made deliveries spanning from Baileys Bay to Warwick.

When asked how he hopes the business fares in the recession, Mr. Simpson said he feels confident,as everyone has to eat, and people like to treat themselves to take out food.

The young Bermudian entrepreneur is employing three people at the new establishment.

For more information please call 292-1241.

When more than 1,100 Bermudian primary school children took part in the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences [BIOS] Explorer programme at the East End research facility in the spring of 2011, two colourful lionfish, Simba and Nala, were among the stars of the show.

But the lionfish were being displayed to teach the youngsters an important lesson about Bermuda’s delicate marine ecosystem.

“Simba and Nala, and volunteers from the Ocean Support Foundation, were on hand to explain the perils of allowing this invasive animal to gain a foothold in Bermuda: while they may look spectacular with their spots, stripes and frills, these lionfish are voracious predators against which Bermuda’s reef fish have no defense,” said BIOS Outreach Programme coordinator Dean Lea. “Fortunately they are delicious — so let’s eat ‘em to beat ‘em”

BIOS Explorer Programme Lionfish Video

Efforts to snatch victory from the jaws of the lionfish by enlisting restaurants to add the fish to their menus continue to gain momentum both locally and in the US thanks to the “Eat Them To Beat Them” initiative first launched on the island by the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo’s Chris Flook.

Mr. Flook — who heads Bermuda’s Lionfish Project aimed at reducing the numbers of the invasive species in local waters — has lectured internationally on how restaurants could help reduce the scavenger’s numbers.

The growth of lionfish numbers in the Atlantic and Caribbean over the last decade continue to raise major concerns among marine conservationists in Bermuda, Florida and the West Indies.

Native to the Indo-Pacific ocean and the Red Sea, lionfish have no known predators in the Atlantic.

“It’s a perfect invader. Not having evolved in this ocean it has many advantages that allow it to flourish,” said Laddie Akins, director of special operations at Florida’s Reef Environmental Education Foundation.

REEF is a charity group of civic-minded divers perhaps best known for their ongoing fish surveys.

Bermuda Triangle Diving Video Of Lionfish Cull On Bermuda’s Reefs

However, by the time the determined fisherman got the big fish to the surface, hungry sharks had bitten off portions of the tuna’s tail. At dockside, even with big chunks missing, the Bluefin still weighed in at 920lbs.

Mr Card [standing on boat] and the fish are pictured below:

Mr Card, who was fishing alone, said that the shark attacks had begun while the fish was still deep down. Using 80lb test line, he fought the fish to the surface and secured it alongside his boat.

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Radioing for help, another fishing boat, “Kerry D” captained by David Soares came to his aid. “Kerry D” got the 920lb fish on board through its transom ‘tuna door’ and the two boats made their way to Spanish Point Boat Club where trucker Peter.Bromby used his crane truck to lift and display the huge fish.

When the fish was gutted – with interested bystanders standing by and watching – five smaller fish were extracted from its stomach.

Click to enlarge images:

A police spokesperson said, “The Bermuda Police Service can now confirm the deaths of 59 year old Clifton Williams of Smith’s parish and 58 year old Mikal Williams of St. George’s parish.”

Emergency personnel on standby at a St. David’s dock at 1.30am this morning:

“Around 12:20am on Tuesday, January 24th police, including the Marine Unit and first responders, as well as the pilot boat St. David promptly attended a report of a boat sinking in the waters off St. David’s Head, St. George’s with two men onboard.

“A rescue effort was launched, however tragically the lifeless bodies of the victims, who were brothers, were subsequently recovered from the ocean and pronounced dead by an on call doctor. The submerged vessel was salvaged around 2pm Tuesday.”

“A full investigation into this incident is ongoing and a file will be prepared for review by the Coroner. The Bermuda Police Service extends condolences to the families and friends of the deceased.”

The family gather at the Memorial; Linda Foggo [sister], Anthony E. Foggo [brother], and Joan Bagley [aunt]:

The family gathered at the scene today, saying the news of the tragedy came as a shock and they felt compelled to make their way to the scene. Their sister said her brothers had gone to be with their father, who had previously passed away.

Family and friends of the two brothers then made their way to the Figurehead Memorial at Great Head Park in St David’s this afternoon. The sculpture is inscribed with almost 80 names, and is dedicated to Bermudians over the centuries who were lost at sea.

Minister of National Security Wayne Perinchief offered his condolences to the family of the victims, and confirmed that he had been advised of the continuing police investigation into the matter.

“At this time our thoughts and prayers are with the families of these two men. Such a sudden loss of life is always tragic but we hope they will be comforted by the strength and support of friends and family,” the Minister said.

Video of the submerged boat being lifted and brought onto land:

Update 9.54pm: The Police issued an amendment to their original statement, naming the victims as “59 year old Mustafa Abdul Hadee of Smith’s parish and 58 year old Mikal Williams of St. George’s parish.”

The official statement said that at approximately midnight the Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre received a call from a 27-foot fishing vessel with two persons onboard, who said the boat had “struck a reef off St. David’s Head and was taking on water.”

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The statement said, “Bermuda Radio instructed the crew to put on lifejackets while tasking the pilot boat St. David and Marine Police boat ‘Heron II’ to assist.

“Bermuda Radio commenced ‘Mayday Relay’ broadcasts to vessels in the area with local fishing vessel ’34 fathoms’ and a local skiff from Smith’s Island responding to the call for assistance.

“A short while later two bodies were recovered from the water off St. David’s Battery and taken ashore by the pilot boat St. David,” concluded the Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre statement.

The pilot boat arrived at the St David’s dock located by Black Horse Tavern at approximately 1.45am this morning, where police, fire and ambulance personnel were waiting.

The ambulance left a short time later with a police escort.

Police officers were seen getting off the pilot boat, with some officers soaking wet. The Marine Police boat arrived at the dock shortly after the pilot boat, along with the two private vessels that had assisted in the search.

Unofficial reports indicate that the two persons appear to have been out fishing, with a cooler containing fish said to have been recovered during the search of the water area.

It is unofficially understood that one body was located soon after the rescue boats’ arrival, and the search team initially held out hope of finding the second person alive. They continued to search, discovering the second body a short while later.

Speaking with an area resident, he noted with sadness that this incident occurred within a short distance of the Figurehead Memorial at Great Head Park in St David’s. The sculpture is inscribed with almost 80 names, and is dedicated to Bermudians over the centuries who were lost at sea.

Update 9.00am: Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre identified the boat as “Tern”.

Update 9.30am: A Marine Police boat with three officers aboard continues to search the waters off St David’s in the area where the boat sank. The area was marked with buoys last night.

Update 11.55am: The police boat has left the scene, and we understand a Crisson Construction barge will be arriving this afternoon.

Update 1.18pm: Two boats have returned to the area, with one carrying what appears to be a police diver onboard.

Update 1.25pm: The diver went into the water, and a second diver aboard one of the boats appears to be preparing to enter the water.

Update 1.42pm: The barge is arriving on scene

Update 2.16pm: The boat has been pulled from the water

Update 2.38pm: Some of the family members of the two men – whose identities have not been officially released yet – gathered at the St David’s scene to watch the proceedings. Speaking with Bernews, they expressed their shock over this tragic incident and said they felt compelled to come and be there today. The two men, who were brothers, were said to be experienced fishermen.

Update 2.50pm: The boat has been brought to shore:

And hoisted onto a vehicle to be towed away:

Update 5.23pm: The full 6-minute video of the boat being hoisted out of the water and brought ashore is below:

Update 6:25pm: The Bermuda Police Service have named the victims as 59 year old Clifton Williams of Smith’s parish and 58 year old Mikal Williams of St. George’s parish.

Henry Mortimer [Tommy] Fox [1860-1942] was a whaler, fisherman and renowned authority on hurricanes, preferring to consult his shark oil barometer even after modern meteorological station was established in Bermuda during the 1930s.

“Every Bermudian and a host of Americans knew and loved Tommy Fox,” the “New York Times” said in obituary of the legendary St. David’s Islander which ran a few days after his death in October, 1942. “Tommy was tall as a ship’s spar; his skin, burned with the suns of eighty-one summers, was like tanned leather; he carried himself with kingly dignity …”

Always a seasonal and relatively minor industry, whaling fell into decline in Bermuda after kerosene began to replace whale oil for use in lanterns in 1860.

By 1880 Tommy Fox’s 28-foot “Shamrock”, equipped with a whale gun and a hundred feet of line, was one of only four vessels still hunting the great mammals in local waters.

According to research conducted by American academic Dr. Aldemaro Romero, after the introduction of kerosene only seven more whales were captured off Bermuda for the remainder of the 19th century — three of them by Tommy Fox’s “Shamrock.”

The last was a captured on December 11, 1894 — a 56-foot sperm whale killed 14 miles off the island and then towed to Southampton Bay. The animal yielded 60 barrels of oil valued at £260.

The son of a pilot, although Tommy Fox used to say he had “saltwater running through my veins instead of blood”, he had retired from seafaring by 1910.

Investing the not inconsiderable fortune he had made from whaling and fishing in St. David’s real estate, he turned to farming at a time when large swathes of the island were given over to the cultivation of Easter lilies.

Baby Sperm Whale Harpooned And Landed In Bermuda, Late 19th Century

By the 1930s, the plain-spoken and colourful former seafarer was something of a local hero.

He was sought out by visiting celebrities including Oscar-winning actor Frederic March — who offered to take him to Hollywood after they spent a day fishing together off St. David’s — and American journalists, who sat spellbound as he recounted 19th century sea yarns on the porch of his home overlooking Castle Harbour.

“Tommy Fox looks much younger than his 76 years,” said a 1936 syndicated profile which ran in American newspapers. “Six foot three and straight as an arrow, it is difficult to believe that Tommy harpooned his first whale 58 years ago in 1878.

“In those days Bermuda sailors were much sought after by the New England skippers in search of crew members. The Bermuda plan of sighting a school of whales from shore and going after them in a whale boat was a hazardous though remunerative procedure …”

Then, during the twilight of Tommy Fox’s life, he found himself courted by Bermudian politician, Government House and British and American diplomats when it was announced the UK had agreed to let the US build a major military base in secluded St. David’s in 1940.

The East End base and a separate facility in Southampton had been included as an addendum to the US-UK Destroyers For Bases deal between British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and US President Franklin D. Roosevelt in September, 1940. Considered vital to trans-Atlantic shipping, aviation and to coordinating action against Nazi submarines in the Battle of the Atlantic, an enemy attack on Bermuda could not be discounted.

The deal allowed Britain to hand much of the defence of Bermuda over to the still-neutral US, freeing British forces for redeployment to more active wartime theatres. It also enabled the development of strategic facilities at US expense which British forces would also utilise.

Tommy Fox’s assent to the base project was considered essential by all parties involved — and it was quickly forthcoming.

“Changes affecting both the homes and economic way of life of hundreds of Bermudians are following in the wake of Uncle Sam’s acquisition of naval and air bases in these islands,” read a 1941 American newspaper report. ” … The St. David’s Islanders are affected principally, for 300 of the 450 acres which make up that island are to be turned over to the United States.

“St. David’s Islanders are unique in their way of life. Many of them have never crossed the narrow strip of water which separates them from the former capital of St. George’s.

“When the Severn Bridge was dropped across St. George’s harbour some years ago, many crossed to view St. George’s for the first time.  But a greater number have not yet seen what they rest of Bermuda looks like.”

St. David’s Islanders had for the most part been content to maintain their almost 350-year splendid isolation from the rest of Bermuda despite the advent of a bridge in the 1930s.

Bermudian, US and UK officials were all aware news of the base deal — which would involve 250 people out of a total population of 475 being uprooted and required to move — could have been met with resistance.

“A meeting was held in St. David’s the day after the announcement about the base sites was made in the colony’s House of Assembly,” continued  the American newspaper report. “It might have been expected that the meeting would express indignation, but the Pequot Indian blood in the St. David’s Islanders kept them silent …

“They accepted the announcement with no murmur of protest. They did more than that. At the instigation of S. Seward Toddings, one of their representatives in the House of Assembly, they adopted a resolution declaring that they wished to express their ‘loyalty to the British Empire by accepting the sacrifices in  the spirit of support for ultimately winning the war against Germany and Italy’ …”

Tommy Fox lost much of the acreage he owned in St. David’s to the Americans and the compensation he received was unlikely to have made up for the emotional trauma of leaving the only home he had known for all of his 80 years.

But he was the first to give his support to the declaration of loyalty — and with his blessing, his fellow St. David’s Islanders fell in behind him.

“Some people don’t believe that a whale could have swallowed Jonah,” Tommy Fox — a devout Christian and senior St. David’s churchwarden —   told an interviewer in 1935. “So I decided to prove to them that the Bible was correct. The very next time I landed a whale, I hauled up his head, opened his mouth, and in the presence of witnesses I climbed down that whale’s throat into his belly!”

That feat earned his the nickname “The Second Jonah” in some quarters. His selflessness when it came to handing over his land to the American military during World War Two earned him yet another soubriquet — “The Second Solomon” – for both the courage and wisdom involved.

Aerial View Of St. David’s After Work Commenced On Kindley Field & The American Military Base

The title creature — a 100-foot giant squid — only moves up the food chain to begin devouring humans after Bermuda fishermen indiscriminately devastate the island’s reef fish using vast commercial fish traps.

Loosely based on events leading up to the Bermuda fish pot ban in 1990 — introduced after the entire ecological balance of the island’s reefs was upset by overfishing — Mr. Benchley’s novel also drew on research being conducted here at the time into the habits of the elusive giant squid.

As in “Jaws”, the book opens with a description of the title monster, lurking in the darkness of the ocean: “It hovered in the ink dark water, waiting. It was not a fish, had no air bladder to give it buoyancy, but because of the special chemistry of its flesh, it did not sink into the abyss.

“It was not a mammal, did not breathe air, so it felt no impulse to move to the surface. It hovered. It was not asleep, for it did not know sleep, sleep was not among its natural rhythms. It rested, nourishing itself with oxygen absorbed from the water pumped through the caverns of its bullet-shaped body. Its eight sinuous arms floated on the current; its two long tentacles were coiled tight against its body.

“When it was threatened or in the frenzy of a kill, the tentacles would spring forward, like tooth-studded whips…

“It existed to survive. And to kill. For, peculiarly — if not uniquely — in the world of living things, it often killed without need, as if Nature, in a fit of perverse malevolence, had programmed it to that end.”

Many of “Beast” was a product of Mr. Benchley’s imagination, but some details– like the story he tells of “something” dragging fishermens’ pots around the ocean floor at great depths — have a basis, if not in fact, then certainly in Bermuda folklore.

As reported by Richard Greenwell in the “International Society of Cryptozoology Newsletter”, Bermudian fisherman John P. [Sean] Ingham was having a lot of trouble with his traps in the mid-1980s.

A deepwater crab and shrimp fisherman, Mr. Ingham’s traps were regularly lowered to depths of between 1,000 and 2,000 fathoms. And these specially reinforced traps were coming back up bent and twisted — in some cases, not coming up at all.

Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute Advisor Clyde Roper On Giant Squids

On September 3, 1984, Mr. Ingham was winching up a trap that had been on the bottom at 500 fathoms. About halfway up, the line broke.

It would take a weight of over 600 pounds to break the line, which was polyethelyne rope.

Dr. Bennie Rohr, a biologist with the National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast Laboratory at Pascagoula, Mississippi, suggested that it might be the work of a giant octopus, since a full cage of tasty shrimp or crabs would be the perfect bait for it.

On another occasion, when a smaller trap was being hauled up from 480 fathoms, the trap seemed rooted to the bottom as if something very heavy was holding it, and the line, with a 4,500-pound breaking strain, was beginning to give.

As if to prove that the trap was not snagged on the bottom, whatever was holding it began to pull the 50-foot boat. When Mr. Ingham put his hand on the line, he felt “thumps like something was walking.”

“Beast’s” hero is Whip Darling,a fisherman struggling to make ends meet in Bermuda’s fished-out waters.

When he finds an abandoned raft emitting a distress signal and covered with a mysterious ammonia-scented slime and a curious claw inside these are the first clues to the danger lurking beneath the sea.

The claw is subsequently identified by Dr. Herbert Talley, one of the world’s leading experts in cephalopods, as being from one of the tentacles of Architeuthis dux, the giant squid.

When two young divers are killed while exploring a shipwreck, panic ensues and Bermuda suffers an economic blow as the man-eating squid scares tourists away.

Darling is then tasked with finding the sea creature and killing it despite his personal belief the squid should just left alone.

The book — Mr. Benchley’s second Bermuda-based novel after “The Deep” – was a bestseller and adapted into a 1996 TV mini-series although the location was changed to the US West Coast for budgetary reasons.

A friend and admirer of Bermuda diver Teddy Tucker – the inspiration for “The Deep’s” adventure-seeking sea-dog Romer Treece — Mr. Benchley served on the international advisory board of the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute [BUEI] from its opening until his death in 2006.

A full-scale model of a giant squid hangs from the ceiling in the BUEI’s mezzanine [pictured below].

Amendments to the Protected Species Act will see penalties increased to a maximum of a $25,000 fine or two years imprisonment for offences related to species falling under the Category 1 classification.

Minister Michael Weeks said, “The low penalties for harming protected species has unfortunately done little to halt unnecessary killing or destruction and they are no longer in line with other environmental legislation.”

“This is illustrated by the fact that despite an aggressive public relations campaign and signage prohibiting fishing of Eagle Rays on Flatts Bridge the Department of Conservation Services continues to find the remains of the Spotted Eagle Ray in the area.”

Categories 1 protected species include the Cahow, the Spotted Eagle Ray, the Bermuda Skink and the Green Turtle. Category 2 includes species that are less vulnerable than Category 1 such as the Diamondback Terrapin turtle, the Yellowwood tree] and the Bermuda Killifish found in Bermuda ponds.

Category 3 is the least restrictive and includes Bermuda Bedstraw grass/plant, Bermuda Snowberry shrub/plant and Bermuda Cedar. ”The amendments will revise the level of fines to bring them into line with similar legislation,” said Minister Weeks.

Category 3 species will remain at the current level of $5,000 or 6 months imprisonment, Category 2 will be increased to $15,000 or one year imprisonment and Category 1 to $25,000 or two years imprisonment.

The Amendment to the Protected Species Act will be debated in the Senate tomorrow [Nov.30]

The Minister’s full statement follows below:

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Aside from Bermuda, Pew has called for the establishment of marine national parks off Chagos in the Indian Ocean, in Australia’s Coral Sea, off the South Pacific Kermadecs islands, at the Hawaiian Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, at the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument and in the waters surrounding Pitcairn.

“Our goal is to work with the Government of Bermuda, non-government organisations and scientists to establish a very large, no-take marine reserve to protect Bermuda’s ocean habitat within its Exclusive Economic Zone [EEZ], which extends from the islands’ coastline out to 200 nautical miles, and is part of the Sargasso Sea,” said the Pew Environmental Group, which launched the marine national park scheme in 2010.

Protection on this scale would:

• Ensure that the Sargasso Sea and its important marine life is safeguarded;
• Provide an important contribution to the internationally agreed target to protect 10 percent of the world’s seas; and
• Demonstrate Bermuda’s role as a world leader in ocean conservation and its place as a world-class destination for tourism and scientific research.

The Pew Environmental Group is placing particular emphasis on  Bermuda because globally important seagrass meadows, coral reefs, mangrove swamps, diverse marine life, and an extensive network of underwater caves exist here.

“The warm waters of the Gulf Stream enable Bermuda’s shallow near-shore waters to support the northernmost coral reef system in the world,” said Pew. “Approximately 4,600 of Bermuda’s more than 8,000 species are found in its blue waters.

National Geographic Report On Bermuda’s Waters

“Thirty-six of these marine species are recognised as threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature [IUCN] Red List of Threatened Species, including the green turtle, oceanic whitetip shark and blue whale. Sixteen species of whale, seven of dolphin and ten of sharks are known to live in Bermuda’s waters.

Bermuda and its surrounding waters lie within the Sargasso Sea, an enormous mass of water that is driven in a clockwise direction by strong ocean currents.

“Floating on its surface are large mats of unique seaweed known as Sargassum, which support a unique variety of marine life,” said Pew. “Scientists have documented that eel species from European and North American rivers migrate here to spawn. Their young then make their way back to live in these rivers.”

The Sargasso Sea also plays an important role in the life cycles of tuna, dolphin, wahoo, billfish, sea turtles, marine birds and the porbeagle shark, which is considered “vulnerable” by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Recent research has found that the Sargasso Sea serves as critical birthing grounds for the shark species.

“Given this highly productive ecosystem, scientists, Bermudians and others are concerned about protecting this area from emerging threats, such as proposals to harvest Sargassum for biofuel,” said Pew.

The Pew Environment Group works with local citizens, governments and scientists around the world to protect and conserve some of the earth’s most important and unspoiled marine environments.

In Bermuda, the Pew Environment Group has consulted with Government, researchers at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences and the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo and is one of the sponsors of the island’s Sargasso Sea Alliance.

The Pew Charitable Trusts are an independent non-profit, non-governmental organization [NGO], founded in 1948 by American billionaire J. Howard Pew. With over $5 billion in assets, its mission is to serve the public interest by “improving public policy, informing the public, and stimulating civic life.”

Recent Florida Atlantic University Lecture On Secrets of the Sargasso Sea

The aim of the workshop, which takes place on December 1, is to present and discuss information on the technical and financial aspects of setting up and operating a viable and profitable aquaculture business locally.

Aquaculture is the farming of freshwater, brackish water or marine organisms including fish, shellfish and algae. Culture techniques are also applied to producing marine organisms such as corals or sponges as a source of raw material for the pharmaceutical industry.

Most commonly used for food production, it represents the world’s fastest growing food sector, and this growth is driven by a growing middle class in countries such as Brazil, China, India, South Africa, as well as by the increased popularity of seafood worldwide.

Featured presenter and workshop leader, Dr. Jesse Chappell, is an experienced aquaculture extension specialist from Auburn University in Alabama who works mainly in the US but also internationally. In his professional role, he is responsible for helping fish and shellfish farmers growing a variety of finfish and shellfish species to be successful in their business ventures.

His presentations will fill the two morning sessions and include an introduction to and overview of the various aquaculture production systems in use, a walk through the various phases in the production cycle, and the post harvest aspects including processing and marketing. His presentation will also go into some detail on the species that he would consider best suited to local conditions.

He will also consider managing risk factors – including environmental factors – and market opportunities, and the thinking that would go into developing a business concept that takes advantage of technology, Bermuda’s location, local and international markets and competitive advantages.

The workshop will continue with presentations on the financial aspects of setting up a local aquaculture business including a look at sources of capital, and some of the opportunities and challenges associated with these. A representative of the Bermuda Stock Exchange will give an overview of the public capital option.

A presentation on the local regulatory framework will lead into a panel discussion on how Bermuda entrepreneurs can move forward with a view to establishing commercial aquaculture businesses in Bermuda, the role of Government in supporting commercial aquaculture and opportunities for employment.

This workshop will provide valuable information relevant to a range of interests – from those wanting to pursue aquaculture as an occupation or career, to entrepreneurs interested in starting their own business and prospective investors. Therefore, anyone with a genuine interest in any aspect of aquaculture is encouraged to attend this workshop.

Minister of Environment, Planning and Infrastructure Strategy Marc Bean explained that there are a number of benefits that Bermuda stands to gain from pursuing aquaculture.

Minister Bean said: “First, the emergence of a new aquaculture industry will provide new business, employment, and investment opportunities for Bermudians.

“Second, local production of farmed fish will contribute to our food security. Presently, 75% of the seafood consumed in Bermuda is imported and, while there are a number of reasons that make it unlikely that Bermuda could be entirely self-sufficient, any aquaculture operation would serve to reduce our dependence on imported seafood.

“And, finally, we can take advantage of Bermuda’s location, especially our proximity to markets on the US east coast and gateways cities in positioning us to deliver a fresh product daily into these markets. You could literally harvest fish in the morning and have it in a restaurant for lunch or dinner that same day.

“We also have a daily connection into Europe and let’s not forget the Bermuda brand. The development of an export market for Bermuda products would bring valuable foreign exchange into Bermuda at a time when this is critical for our economy.”

Director of the Department of Environmental Protection Dr. Frederick Ming will be the facilitator for the event.

Dr. Ming said: “One of the functions of this workshop is to consider the pros and cons of the different kinds of aquaculture under local conditions. There are a number of factors that determine which species of fish or shellfish could be cultured here.

“Some of this is market driven of course, but our moderate climate and good water quality are favourable for good growth rates and energy efficiency both of which are critical. There are also environmental considerations, as some species or methods of aquaculture have the potential to negatively impact our local environment, and both government and NGO’s are concerned about protecting the local marine environment.

“But with some of the more recent developments in the technology of fish production, there is reason to believe that we can find a sustainable path.”

Dr. Ming added: “The workshop seeks to attract persons who are curious about the kinds of opportunities that aquaculture offers, whether they are looking at it from a business angle, as an investment, or a more technical or job related perspective.”

The workshop will begin at 9:30am and a light lunch will be on sale for those in attendance. There is no cost for registration. Attendees should bring with them any writing materials they deem necessary for note-taking as stationary will not be supplied.

Anyone wishing to attend this workshop should contact Juliet Spencer at the Department of Environmental Protection on 236-4201 or 239-2317. For further information call the Department of Environmental Protection on 236-4201, or 293-5600 ext 2222 or 2225.

A statement released  by the Ministry said, “The recreational fishing survey aims to collect information on how often people fish, the types of fish they catch, and how much of it they catch.

“It also aims to determine the public’s awareness of recent changes to the Fisheries Regulations introduced over the past year, and how they feel about them, and how well these new Regulations are understood.

“The survey results will enable the Marine Resources Section of the Department of Environmental Protection to better manage Bermuda’s fish stocks and to avoid their being overfished.

“It will also highlight areas for future education and outreach campaigns to ensure that all fishers are aware of the Fisheries Regulations.

“During August and September, Marine Resources staff, with the help of a couple of volunteers, interviewed people fishing on the shoreline in order to collect information about their fishing habits.”

“We have conducted 91 shoreline surveys so far and are planning to conduct some more to bring that number up to 100,” explained Senior Marine Resources Officer Dr. Tammy Trott.

“Now we are mailing out the survey to boat owners to find out how many people use their boats for fishing and would like to solicit their assistance in returning the surveys as quickly as possible. We’d ideally like people to get the surveys back in the post by the end of October via the return addressed envelope provided but expect that some people will not get them posted until November.”

The statement continued on to say that, “All answers on the survey are strictly confidential. As no personal details are recorded on the survey, Marine Resources staff have included a separate piece of paper for individuals to give their name and contact details if they would like a recreational fishing logbook to record their fishing activities during the coming year.”

“Completed surveys, map and logbook request (if applicable) can be mailed back to the Department from any post office (no stamp required), or dropped off at the Department of Environmental Protection’s head office at the Point Finger Road entrance to the Botanical Gardens or at the Marine Resources Section on Coney Island.

“For those avid shoreline fishermen who have not yet been surveyed and wish to complete a survey, the survey can be downloaded from the Department of Environmental Protection’s website on the Government Portal (www.gov.bm) and can be dropped off at one of the Department’s offices.”

Minister for Environment, Planning and Infrastructure Strategy Walter Roban said: “It is hoped that the survey will open the lines of communication between the Marine Resources Section and the fishing public, and that greater interaction and consultation will enhance management of fisheries resources to ensure enjoyable and sustainable fishing into the future.”

The Minister added: “We are asking for the co-operation of the fishing public while conducting this survey, as the information gained will be used to the benefit of the whole community as well as the wider marine environment.”

The video below [which appears to contain some swearing, so please turn down your volume if desired] shows a group of friends, guest workers in Bermuda, showcasing the eel and expressing their amazement.

A spokesperson from the Environmental Department said, “The video shows a Sharptail eel Myrichthys breviceps, native to the Atlantic and the species has been noted in local waters.”

“They feed mainly on invertebrates and can burrow tail first into the sand. Over the summer there have been several instances where these eels have been caught while fishing off the rocks along the southshore.”

“Most eels will only bite in self defense or out of curiosity. While they are not venomous their mouths are full of bacteria and bites can become infected. So caution should be taken if caught.”

Speaking yesterday, Groundswell president Matthew Strong said, “Whilst weather may prevent our attempts to be on the reef culling the invasion, we will not allow weather to hamper our efforts to continue to raise awareness of the threats of this invasive fish.”

“In light of such, Groundswell will host an information and tasting stall this coming Wednesday August 31 at Harbor Nights on Front Street. We will have samples of locally inspired recipes prepared by Bermuda’s top lionfish chef Chris Malpas, live lionfish on display, t-shirts for sale and application forms to participate in this year’s tournament.”

Groundswell also announced a revised format to the tournament whereby entrants can start culling today with a view to clearing as many lionfish from the reef as possible between now and the revised weigh-in date.

Groundswell founder Tim Davidson added, “We are here not only to raise awareness, but to also mobilize the community to take a proactive role in protecting our marine environment. So much so that we are encouraging entrants to get out there as much as possible over the coming weeks and to start freezing their catches so that they can be presented at the revised weigh-in date at BIOS.”

Whilst the revised date is yet to be announced, it is anticipated to be a Sunday in late September or early October.

Groundswell is a registered charity under the Charities Act 1978, and more information can be gathered from their website at www.reefspect.com or by contacting the Groundswell team on info@reefspect.com.

Department staff will be visiting shoreline areas to interview people who are fishing and also going out on the water to interview boaters. In addition, there will be a mail survey of boat owners.

This survey, which begins this month and will continue into September, aims to collect information on how often people fish, the types of fish they catch, and of how much of it they catch.

“We would also like to test the public’s awareness of recent changes to the Fisheries Regulations introduced over the past year, and how they feel about them, and how well these new Regulations are understood,” explained Director of Environmental Protection Dr. Frederick Ming.

“Since a survey like this is quite time-consuming, establishing a system whereby recreational fishers can regularly report their catches to the Department would allow for routine updates of the amount of fish being caught.”

“This is why we’ve also included questions that deal with the reporting of catch. In order to take account of recreational fishing activities during the development of marine management plans, it would be useful to know the most popular locations for recreational fishing, and there is a map for people to indicate the areas where they frequently fish.”

The information obtained from the surveys will highlight areas for future education and outreach campaigns to ensure that all fishers are aware of the Fisheries Regulations.

Also, marine resource managers will use the information from the survey to calculate the amount of different types of fish harvested by recreational fishers and determine whether the current regulations adequately protect vulnerable species from overfishing.

Minister for Environment, Planning and Infrastructure Strategy Walter Roban said: “It is hoped that the survey will open the lines of communication between the Marine Resources Section and the fishing public, and that greater interaction and consultation will enhance management of fisheries resources to assure enjoyable and sustainable fishing into the future.”

The Minister added: “We are asking for the co-operation of the fishing public while conducting this survey, as the information gained will be used to the benefit of the whole community as well as the wider marine environment.”

The Act which passed in the Senate yesterday will increase the maximum possible fine for violations to $50,000.

Senator Cannonier said, “We in the OBA whole heartily support this act. It is important that we protect our waters.”

The Senator went on to say, “One of the other concerns of this, is the Policing of the Fisheries. The great concern is that this is a very very difficult industry to Police.”

” We need to have more in place to help us manage this act”

The Bermuda Billfish Blast is the first leg of the Bermuda Triple Crown Billfish Championship which sees three Bermuda-based events, including the Bermuda Billfish Blast July 3-7, the Bermuda Big Game Classic July 13-17 and the Sea Horse Anglers Club Billfish Tournament July 20-24. Boats competing in any of the events are eligible for the Bermuda Triple Crown Billfish Championship.

The first day of fishing in the Blast coincided with the July 4th Blue Marlin World Cup so all teams in Bermuda were looking for that trophy fish but to no avail. The “Maui Jim” out of Kona, Hawaii won top prize with their catch of a 729 lb marlin.

The second leg of the Bermuda Triple Crown Billfish Championship will be the Bermuda Big Game Classic held July 13-17. This is Bermuda’s largest billfish event and the centerpiece of the Bermuda Triple Crown Billfish Championship. The Classic is also a qualifying event for the IGFA Offshore World Championship, with the winning team receiving an invitation to the championship.

Photo and videos courtesy of www.catchstat.com.

The number can be used to report suspected prohibited activities like illegal fishing or catching of protected species, to raise a query with regards to the new fishing regulations, or to report an unusual marine event such as a “fish kill”.

Director of Environmental Protection Dr. Fred Ming said: “Our fisheries wardens do a fine job but we need public support with enforcement of the Fisheries Regulations which can be made more effective if members of the public report any activities they witness that they suspect is prohibited.”

Callers will speak directly with either a Fisheries warden or a member of the Marine Resources staff who is familiar with the Fisheries Regulations and will be able to provide an immediate response to any regulatory questions, and can initiate an investigation if appropriate. Cases will then be referred to the Department of Public Prosecutions and taken to court if appropriate evidence is gathered.

Some of the more serious fisheries offences in Bermuda include the use of illegal fish pots and traps which were banned in 1990 due to the over-exploitation of many fish species as well as spear fishing close to shore i.e. within 1 nautical mile.

According to the Department, some of the most common fisheries offences in Bermuda include:

• Breaking the ‘one fish per boat per day bag limit’ for black rockfish – Taking too many of this or any other species could result in over exploitation.

• Selling of fish by those who are not licensed commercial fishermen. This undermines the commercial fishing industry and the ability of our fishermen to make a living. It also leaves the purchaser open to food safety concerns if the person selling the fish illegally has not had training in how to properly handle fish and seafood to prevent spoiling.

• Fishing in the seasonally protected areas – These areas have been established to protect groups of fish during their summer breeding season. Fishing in these areas during the breeding season increases the likelihood of over-exploitation because the fish are easier to catch when they are in groups. It can also interfere with spawning / breeding activity.

Certain species on the Fisheries Protected Species List have been placed there due to over-exploitation. These include the West Indian Top Shell – which recently saw a man fined $10,000 for collecting – as well as the Queen and Harbour Conchs and a number of fish species, most notably, the Nassau grouper and parrotfishes.

Dr. Tammy Trott, Senior Marine Resources Officer, explained that each of the above mentioned species has a place and function in the marine ecosystem and over-harvesting of them could negatively affect the way that the ecosystem functions.

She said: “Parrotfish are important to the coral reef system because they feed on algae and stop it from growing over corals. If the coral becomes covered by algae and dies, there is potential for the loss of other species that make their homes on the coral reefs.”

“This in turn could result in the loss of livelihoods for those that depend on a healthy reef system with an abundance of fish, such as commercial fishermen, tour boat operators and dive operators.”

The overall high point rod [the angler with the most points in the tournament] wins a watch donated by Crisson Jewellers to be presented at the prize giving on June 17th. Spectators are invited along each day to watch the daily weigh-in at the Spanish Point Boat club at about 4pm, with today seeing the final day of competition.

Click to enlarge:

All teams use the same tournament line – 12lb breaking strain monofilament. The winning team qualifies for the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) Offshore Championship Tournament that is being held in Mexico next year. The results from yesterday [June 15] are below.

The Bermuda Anglers Club, the Island’s oldest fishing club, hosts the event which is fished over four days – 12th and 13th of June and the 15th and 16th of June.

Highlights of the tournament so far include a White Marlin release by local angler Danny Fox and some beautiful Yellowfin Tuna in the 50lb plus range. Many of the tournament competitors hope to land line class world record catches. In Bermuda waters there is a good chance of a world record Almaco Jack. The winning team qualifies for the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) Offshore Championship Tournament that is being held in Mexico next year.

Anglers yielding the best catch can look forward to winning trophies for a number of categories, including: -

• Championship team
• Second place team
• Third place team
• Daily high point team
• Daily high point fish (that’s the heaviest fish each day)
• Daily high point rod (that is the individual angler amassing the most points each day)
• Overall high point fish
• Overall high point rod
• Overall high point boat

The overall high point rod (the angler with the most points in the tournament) wins a watch donated by Crisson Jewellers to be presented at the prize giving on June 17th.  All teams use the same tournament line – 12lb breaking strain monofilament. Spectators are invited along each day to watch the daily weigh-in at the Spanish Point Boat Club at about 4pm.

Photos from June 13, click to enlarge:

Anglers can expect to catch a variety of local fish – wahoo, blackfin and yellowfin tuna, barracuda and almaco jacks are among the most common contributors to points allocated at the end of each day’s fishing. Tuna under 18lbs are released but points still awarded. The occasional white or blue marlin has also been caught.

The 60lb wahoo pictured below was caught during last year’s tournament on a 12lb test by Bermudian Danny Fox. Pictured below left to right: Captain Craig Curtis, Richard Ricca, Danny Fox, Mark Teceria, Matt Crumley and Wayne B Booth.

Many will hope to land line class world record catches. In Bermuda waters there is a good chance of a world record almaco jack. The winning team qualifies for the International Game Fish Association [IGFA] Offshore Championship Tournament that is being held in Mexico next year.

The Bermuda Anglers Club, the Island’s oldest fishing club, hosts the event which is fished over four days with the first day’s fishing starting on the 12th of June.

Anglers yielding the best catch can look forward to winning trophies for a number of categories, including: -

• Championship team
• Second place team
• Third place team
• Daily high point team
• Daily high point fish (that’s the heaviest fish each day)
• Daily high point rod (that is the individual angler amassing the most points each day)
• Overall high point fish
• Overall high point rod
• Overall high point boat

The overall high point rod [the angler with the most points in the tournament] wins a watch donated by Crisson Jewellers to be presented at the prize giving on June 17th.

All teams use the same tournament line – 12lb breaking strain monofilament. It is an even playing field and all teams compete on the same basis. Spectators are invited along each day to watch the daily weigh-in at the Spanish Point Boat club at about 4pm.

Mr. Flook — who heads Bermuda’s Lionfish Project aimed at reducing the numbers of the invasive species in local waters — has lectured internationally on how restaurants could help reduce the scavenger’s numbers by adding it to their menus.

Lionfish continue to raise major concerns among marine conservationists in Bermuda, Florida and the Caribbean. Native to the Indo-Pacific ocean and the Red Sea, lionfish have no known predators in the Atlantic.

“It’s a perfect invader. Not having evolved in this ocean it has many advantages that allow it to flourish,” Laddie Akins, director of special operations at Florida’s Reef Environmental Education Foundation, recently told the on-line Miller-McCune news site. REEF is a charity group of civic-minded divers perhaps best known for their ongoing fish surveys.

Lionfish at Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo

Accounts of lionfish in Atlantic lurch between urban legend and provable fact. Numerous sources report six lionfish were first seen in the Biscayne Bay, Florida in 1992, apparently having been freed shortly after Hurricane Andrew damaged a beachside aquarium.

Regardless of how they arrived, their presence is increasingly being felt.

Researchers examining the stomachs of lionfish have found the remains of 50 species of other fish, ranging from commercially valuable grouper, snapper and crustaceans to fish that groom coral reefs, such as the algae-eating parrotfish.

In Bermuda Mr. Flook has said measures intended to reduce the invasive fish’s population have helped keep the species from overtaking the reefs as has already happened in the Bahamas.

“We will always have lionfish on our reefs, but unlike some areas, we will still have other species as well,” he told a recent Hamilton Rotary Club meeting.

Lionfish reach maturity within two years and reproduce frequently, producing up to 30,000 eggs each time per spawn. Ocean currents carry the eggs north to Bermuda and through parts of the Caribbean and Florida.

REEF has declared open season on this formidable predator, hoping to eat the Atlantic lionfish out of existence.

Inspired by Mr. Flook’s campaign in Bermuda, in  December 2010, REEF published the “Lionfish Cookbook”, a primer detailing the cooking and preparation of lionfish.

REEF’s project is attracting prominent chefs in Washington, D.C., lured by the prospect of working with new ingredients. Recently, Xavier Deshayes, executive chef at the Ronald Reagan Building, joined a lionfish derby in the Bahamas as part of an “ocean to plate” lecture series hosted by the US National Aquarium.

“It’s very exciting for a chef to know exactly where his fish is coming from,” he said. “It’s a completely different experience than getting your fish from a supplier.”

According to Chef Deshayes once filleted lionfish are similar in flavor and texture to halibut, a seafood staple that is flash frozen and shipped to high-end restaurants across the United States.

BAMZ’s Chris Flook talks about Bermuda’s lionfish invasion with Alex Scrymgeour